Calibrachoa plant named &#39;bbcal26702&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘BBCAL26702’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; red purple and dark purple-colored petals with a central yellow-colored star-shaped pattern; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBCAL26702’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBCAL26702’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Nov. 6, 2013 of Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL42202’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/121,651, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 12C363-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 2, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 2, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL26702’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBCAL26702’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Red purple and dark purple-colored petals with a central         yellow-colored star-shaped pattern.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘USCAL42202’. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL42202’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCAL42202’ have violet-colored flowers with central purple-colored star pattern and yellow-colored throats.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink-colored petals. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching and flower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘ USCAL91001’ , disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL91001’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCAL91001’ have red purple-colored flowers with a yellow-colored star pattern that extends to the edge of the petal. Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI11’ in flower color as plants of ‘USCALI11’ have light red purple-colored flowers without a star pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL26702’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL26702’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. Plants were six weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL26702’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL42202’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.             14/121,651.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 12C363-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate;             freely branching habit with about three primary lateral             branches each with about six secondary branches; dense and             bushy appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 14.4 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 21 cm by 25 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 12.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             eventually trailing.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 145A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute;             matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 200 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the spring though the summer until             frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Color: Close to 196B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm by 3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 9 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—Proximally, about 2.5 mm; distally,             about 8 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Petal shape:             Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower surface:             Pubescent, minute; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent, minute             and primarily along the veins; matte. Color: Petal lobe,             when opening, upper surface: Close to 77A. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 156C. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Ground color, close to 71B; band             surrounding the throat, close to N79A; venation, close to             N79B; with development, ground color becoming closer to N78B             and band, closer to N79B. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to slightly more grey than N80D; venation,             close to 197A; with development, color becoming closer to             more grey than N80D. Throat and central star pattern: Close             to 14A; venation, close to 194B. Tube: Close to 160C;             venation, close to 183A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Sepal             length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Sepal color, lower surface: Close to N137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to             145C. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round.             Anther color: Close to 6D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 7C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style             color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close             to 145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL26702’ as illustrated and described. 